INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
December 2-3 2016
The Initiatives of European Island Authorities
The case of Greek Islands
Kostas Komninos
Director, DAFNI – Network of Sustainable Greek Islands
Energy Expert, AEGEA – Aegean Energy and Environment Agency
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
The DAFNI network
 DAFNI is a network of island local authorities
 DAFNI is a non profit organisation
 DAFNI has 40 members, 38 Municipal and 2
Regional members
Network of Sustainable
Greek Islands
 DAFNI promotes sustainable development in
Greek islands through integrated actions in the
fields of energy, water, waste, mobility,
environment and local development
 DAFNI is founding member of the Pact of
Islands, initiative promoting sustainability in EU
islands through local energy planning and
engagement of local authorities and citizens
 DAFNI is the coordinator of the Smart Islands
Initiative promoting islands as test beds for
innovative projects
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
What is special about Islands
Structural handicaps related to energy
 Energy planning based on seasonality
 High reliance on hydrocarbons, high potential for emissions reduction
 Obstacles to reduce emissions for interconnected islands due to low
capacity cables that do not allow high RES penetration
 Obstacles to reduce emissions for non-interconnected (NI) islands due to
technical restrictions in the grid that do not allow high RES penetration
 Difficulty to introduce natural gas in the islands’ energy market
 Cost of energy is significantly higher due to transportation costs
 First line of defence and most severe impact from climate change
compared to continental regions
 Often scarce water resources – Energy intensive desalination plants
 Waste to be managed locally – Impossible to go to economies of scale
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
What is special about Islands
Opportunities
 Many islands regions (NI ones), unlike mainland regions, are producing
locally CO2 emissions in their territories and can commit to reduce them.
 Islands host locally all the energy, water, waste and waste water
management utilities. The integrated management of these infrastructures
may create interesting paradigms and accumulated results.
 Insularity issues faced by islands are in many cases similar with the insularity
issues faced by mountainous and geographically isolated areas of
continental Europe. The experiences of islands can be easily replicated and
transferred to these areas too.
 Innovative investments such as smart grids, energy storage and efficiency
have a much higher impact on islands; especially non-interconnected ones.
 Islands can function as test beds for different innovative technologies in the
sustainability area which then can be scaled up to towns and cities of
continental Europe
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
What is special about Islands
EURELECTRIC report – June 2012
“EU islands: Towards a sustainable energy future”
The report makes the following recommendations to national and European
policymakers to incentivise the transition towards a sustainable energy
future
1. Set up an EU Island Sustainable Energy Action Plan 2020
2. Improve security of supply through diversification of power generation
technologies, as well as interconnection where possible
3. Use islands as a priority test-bed for innovative technologies such as
storage, smart grids and RES. Foster RD&D on islands
4. Use exemptions appropriately and address the market failures that
often occur as a result of limited size and isolation
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
What is special about Islands
Political dimension
 Recognition of insularity by European Treaties (Article 174 of the Lisbon
Treaty) and in the European Directives
 Political support from the European Parliament

Musotto Declaration (2007), Written Declaration 37 (2011)
 Call for tenders of the European Commission – Preparatory Action for
Islands (2008)
 Political support and Declaration from major island authorities and
regions (through the Islands Commission of the CPMR)
 “Smart Islands“ is the new strategy for the European Islands (September
2013) – drawing inspiration from Smart Cities and Communities
 “Smart Islands“ is an own-opinion by the European Economic and Social
Committee (March 2015)
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
What is special about Islands
Political dimension – Latest Progress 30.11.2016
Winter Package Communication from the Commission
“Clean Energy For All Europeans”
ANNEX 2: Action to boost the clean energy transition
Chapter 8. Governance and partnerships for effective delivery
“Islands and island regions provide platforms for pilot initiatives on clean energy
transition and can serve as showcases at international level, as, for instance, in the
EU's outermost regions with the case of El Hierro (Canary Islands), 100% renewable
energy island. The Commission would like to help accelerate the development and
adoption of best available technologies on islands and island regions, including
exchange of best practice in financing and legal and regulatory regimes, and in
energy for transport. The first step is to bring the islands themselves together,
regardless of their size, geography or their location.”
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
The Initiatives of European
Island Authorities
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Pact of Islands – How it all started
 EU supported initiative launched in 2011 under the
ISLE-PACT project, co-funded by DG-ENERGY, to
promote local sustainable energy planning taking into
account the special characteristics of islands
 An initiative in liaison to the Covenant of Mayors but
focusing on the islands’ special characteristics
64 signatories from:
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Cyprus
Denmark
Estonia
Greece
Italy
Malta
Spain
Sweden
Portugal
United Kingdom
 Island Sustainable Energy Action Plans (iSEAPs) and
Bankable Projects produced for the signatories
 Methodologies and tools for planning and monitoring
the ISEAPs provided to the signatories
Commitments
 To submit an iSEAP one year after signing the PoI
 To monitor and update the iSEAP at least every 2 years
 To realise projects contributing to the EU202020 KPIs
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Sustainable Islands of Europe
Cluster of Scotland
Cluster of Denmark
Cluster of Sweden
Cluster of ESIN
Cluster of Estonia
10 members
5 members
3 members
21 members
22 members
www.sustainableislands.eu
150 members
11 clusters
250 trainees
61 bankable projects
of Malta
Cluster of Greece
Cluster of Cyprus
Greening Cluster
the Islands
– International
Conference
Cluster of Spain
Cluster of Portugal
Cluster of CPMR
9 members
17 members
6 members
6 members
28 members
21 members
2-3 December
2016
Current PoI Signatories
Signatories = Islands
1. Cyprus – 16 municipalities
2. Denmark – 1 island
3. Estonia – 3 islands
4. Finland – 4 islands
5. France – 5 islands
6. Greece – 32 islands
7. Ireland – 1 island
8. Italy – 11 islands
9. Malta – 5 municipalities
10. Portugal – 11 islands
11. Spain – 11 islands
12. Sweden – 11 islands
13. UK – 1 island
14. Cape Verde – 10 islands
117 islands have signed the
Pact of Islands as of today
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
What’s next?
Smart Islands Initiative
Following up on the SMILEGOV Smart Islands Strategy the Smart Islands
Initiative seeks to demonstrate that islands can host pilot projects and
produce knowledge on smart and efficient resource and infrastructure
management, which may be then transferred in mountainous, rural and
generally geographically isolated areas but also scaled-up in big cities of
continental Europe and beyond
SI Initiative advocates in favour of a place-based, transformative development
agenda that taps into islands’ competitive advantages, generates local growth
and prosperity and contributes to EU policy goals in the fields of
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energy, climate,
innovation, circular economy,
transport and mobility,
blue growth, and
the digital agenda
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Smart Islands Initiative
 Smart Island refers to an insular territory that creates local sustainable economic
development and a high quality of life for the local population by putting in place smart
and integrated solutions to the management of infrastructures and natural resources,
namely energy, transport and mobility, waste and water, all while promoting the use of
innovative and socially inclusive governance and financing schemes.
 Smart is used to refer to the adoption of an integrated approach to the management of
islands’ infrastructure and natural resources and thus create an enabling environment
for sustainable economic activities to flourish.
The Smart Islands initiative unfolds in three main directions
Smart Islands Initiative
Smart Islands Forum
Smart Islands Declaration
Smart Islands Platform
An annual event for
networking, knowledge
exchange and project
development
A manifest to mobilize political
and financial support towards
islands seen as field of
innovation and excellence
An EU scale organisation to
promote smart, integrated and
sustainable policies and projects
of interest for its members
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Smart Islands Initiative
Where we stand today
1.
1st Smart Islands Forum took place in Athens in June 2016 with the
participation of over 40 island representatives from Croatia, Cyprus,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, Sweden, the
Netherlands and the UK setting the foundations for the Initiative
2.
Smart Islands Own Declaration is currently being signed by local island
authorities and Letters of Support to the Initiative are signed by
representatives of the Quadruple Helix
3.
Smart Islands Event: Creating new pathways for EU islands is planned and
organised for 28 March 2017 as an outgoing Brussels event with the support
of MEPs to present to key stakeholders the Initiative
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
The case of Greek Islands
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Electricity in the Greek Islands
 32 islands – Interconnected to the
mainland system
 56 islands – Electrified by autonomous
thermal plants (diesel, HFO) and RES
Size of the island systems
 Peak load > 100 MW 2 systems
 Peak load 2-100 MW 20 systems
 Peak load < 2 MW
10 systems
Power and Energy figures
 Thermal plants: 1.75GW
 RES plants: 0.45GW (75% wind)
 Annual RES share on energy ~ 18%
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Examples of projects under development
 Municipal wind park, Lesvos: Repowering and extension of a licenced wind park
with parallel operation of an environmental and RES park.
 Municipal wind park, Kos: Unlocking license and financing processes of an existing
installation license
 Kythnos Smart Island: Master plan for the integrated infrastructures’ management
in Kythnos island reviving the rich energy test-bed history of the island
 Geothermal district heating, Lesvos: Reoperation and extension of a geothermal
pilot district heating network to heat private houses, a poultry farm and several
greenhouses.
 Energy efficiency in street lighting (5 islands): LED lighting and smart control
applications.
 Smart Grid infrastructure (5 islands): Installation of energy control centres in the
thermal power plants and smart meters at the end-users
 Desalination with RES: Promotion of systems combining desalination plants with
installation of RES plants.
 Biogas plant, Naxos: Feasibility study for the exploitation of the local farming
residuals.
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Smart Grids project in 5 Aegean Islands
WHY
 Optimal management of the autonomous power systems:
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Support increased RES penetration levels
Promote distributed RES production and microgrids
Integration of new RES technologies (solar thermal, hybrid with storage etc.)
Enhance security of operation
Optimize generation cost & Public Service Obligation (PSO) costs
 Network monitoring and control:
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Improve quality of supply and services
Facilitate operations
Optimize asset utilization
Reduce losses
 Support application of new regulatory framework and NII market operation
 Promote energy efficiency
 Provide the basis for demand management and response
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Smart Grids project in 5 Aegean Islands
HOW
 ELENA (European Local Energy Assistance) is part of the EIB broader effort
to support the EU climate and energy policy objectives.
 ELENA provides technical assistance to local authorities to implement
energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
 The project idea was conceived in 2009, in collaboration with the Public
Power Company, later HEDNO – the sole Greek DSO.
 DAFNI applied on behalf of 5 local island authorities (Lesvos, Lemnos,
Milos, Santorini and Kythnos)
Peak
Area Population
Island
demand
(km2)
(2011)
(MW)*
Lesvos
1,633
85,330
63.87
Limnos
478
17,000
14.00
Milos
160
5,129
11.50
Kythnos
100
1,310
2.82
Santorini
73
15,250
32.50
Wind
farms
(MW)*
13.95
2.44
2.65
0.665
0
RES
PVs
penetration
(MW)*
(%)*
8.84
16,65
1.83
12,14
0.618
19,12
0.238
4,69
*(2013)
0.249
0,39
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Smart Grids project in 5 Aegean Islands
WHAT
ELENA Key figures
 TA Budget : ~800 k€
 Investment: ~52 m€
 Period: 2011 – 2014
Studies and tender documents
 Energy Control Centres (ECC)
 Automated Metering Infrastructure
(AMI) for all consumers on the islands
 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS)
 Energy efficiency in street lighting
As of today
 AMI tender has concluded and smart
meters will be installed in 2017-8
 ECC to be installed in the larger NII
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Smart Grids project in 5 Aegean Islands
The role of local authorities
 To collaborate with the DSO to inform and educate the consumers regarding the
use and benefits of smart meters
 To communicate the benefits of the smart grid infrastructure inside and outside of
the island – “Smart grid lighthouse islands”
 To support the transition of the consumers into prosumers
 To take advantage of the potential margins for RES installations in order to
participate in new investments
 To take advantage of the secure and stable network to invest on energy efficient
equipment in water and waste water infrastructure
 To use the smart meters for a more efficient monitoring of municipal electricity
consumption and secure energy savings in collaboration with ESCOs
 To promote an integrated management of island infrastructure based on the
“smart islands” concept starting with the smart grid (smart electricity)
 To develop an EV market as a pilot user and promoter
 To become an aggregator taking advantage of possible flexible municipal loads
 To become a test-bed for future research and demo applications
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Smart Grids – What’s Next
WiseGRID – Smart Grids Demonstration Project in Kythnos
LCE2: Demonstration of smart grid, storage and
system integration technologies with increasing
share of renewables: distribution system
In Kythnos an integrated small electrical system
will be developed including:
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EV charging stations and EVs
Energy storage systems (batteries) for
public/municipal buildings
Equipment for the optimization of the
operation of a desalination plant
Energy storage systems (batteries) to reduce
RES curtailment
Equipment for the flexible, optimal and
secure operation of the electricity network,
all while increasing the interactive
communication with consumers
(WiseGRID toolkit)
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016
Thank you
KEEP CALM
AND
THINK ABOUT
THE ISLANDS
For more information
[email protected]
[email protected]
Greening the Islands – International Conference
2-3 December 2016